Regional Pot Workers Could Face Lifetime Ban From US News Centre News

16 September 2018

A top official of the U.S. Customs Border Protection confirmed earlier this week that anyone working or investing in Canada's cannabis industry will be treated as if they are an illegal drug trafficker.

Canada is set to legalize recreational use of cannabis on October 17, but the drug is still illegal under U.S. Federal law.

Owen says if a traveller is asked about past use use, he shouldn't lie.

If such history is learned about someone trying to cross the border, Owen explained, or they lie about it, "that's fraud and misrepresentation, which carries a lifetime ban".

According to Politico, whether or not the traveller enters the U.S., a record will be kept by the border agency and that traveller will not be allowed to return to the US.

However, Owen, who oversees U.S border operations, said the traveler would still be able to apply for a waiver from the lifetime ban, which can takes months to be processed and costs $585.

He added, "At a time when public opinion and the culture around marijuana is rapidly shifting, not just in the U.S. but around the world, it is inane for United States border officials to maintain such a draconian and backward-looking policy".

"Every country has the right to judge who gets to come into their borders or not", he said. I wouldn't presume to have any other country tell me how or who we can let into Canada.

"A lot of people don't understand that they are still going to have problems after legalization", said Henry Chang, a partner at Blaney McMurtry LLP in Toronto who handles immigration law on both sides of the border.